The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1887-08-05
THE WALLED-lN ROOM.

near tho man stood n woman with u
bonnet with great white wings on the
sides, holding in her hand a moist
compress. The room was plain and
neat with clean white walls. On q
table, covered with great napkin OF
yellow linen, | noted II number OF
strange objects-rows OF lite walls,
and brown earthen jar filled with
bits OF ice. Through the muslin cur.
tains, which bellied out from the win.
dow in the balmy air, could see a
patch OF blue sky and the tops
green trees bending lightly in the
breeze. Where was |? 1tseemed like q
long dream that ! had; my head
felt empty, my limbs ached. and |
could not think.
The man gently lifted my head, and
gave me a few drops OF some liquid,
which swallowed with avidity.
well, Mr.. Furniss." he said, chow
do yon ieel?"
oh, what?" i cried. "Where am
II"
"Ion are in my house, my dear sir,
and we shall take good care OF you.
Now he added, replacing my head
on the pillow, "be quiet and 90 to
sleep"
gazed at him for a long time, and
all at once l recognized Doctor
Bertram, the celebrated specialist in
insanity. A shudder passed through
my frame. Why was in Doctor Ber-
trans hospital, instead of in my
home, near Phoenix Park, with my
books, my herbs, and my microscopes
around me? His hospital was for
mad people!-and that Sister OF Char.
ity, those walls, that bowl OF ice-my
God, | must be madl But why?-
how?
"How long have l been here?"
asked ,ltfter a time.
"lfor four weeks, Mr.. Furniss. But
you must be quiet and sleep. Now do
not try to talk"
For u month! Was it possible?
What had happened? But even as
asked myself these questions, little
by little | went off to sleep, and
saw, in q billowy meadow. q
road covered with blood and
bordered on either side with mon,
strous microscopes shaped like trees,
II road on which two little girls played
at pitch and catch with n severed
head, while Doctor Bertram, comic.
ally bonneted with religious cap
rode astride OF a dead body, which
reared, and pranced, and kicked till
he could scarce keep his'seat.
The next morning | was better; and
day by day improved. though that
horrible nightmare came to me each
night. But it grew less and less dis
tinct, and in a few weeks 1t almost
ceased to trouble me.
One evening the doctor, whom
had not seen during the day, seated
himself near the bed
"Well," said he, feeling my pulse
you are doing famously. I'll have
you out, as good as new, in u few days
But you've had n close shave. 1t has
been one OF the prettiest cases OF ccre
bral congestion ! ever handled-a
beautiful case. Why, it's q wonder
you are alive now. Tell me, how is
your memory; can you remember
what happened before you were
brought here?"
"1-1 don't know, l can not think
have passed through something lear
full. What it is, ! cannot say. From
the faint gliminer of recollection that
come, to me, have the sensation O
having been dead murdered Oh, II
is frighttul. My BRAIN is weak yet
Then. the child, u pretty eolden-hair
ed rolling on the floor"
"Come, come, this will never do.
said the doctor. "iou can tell me al
about it i'll the morn"
"No, now. DOCTOR" cried. at il
coming back to me. Yes. l have il
now"
Here is an exact transcript OF my
recital rs / told it to Dr. Bertran
and, later, to the magistrate
You know my passion for natura
history. Well, scarcely u week passe.
that / do not go into the country
DOIalIHliip. INV uay WeiG u
Glancevin, where, as you know, tn,
marshy meadows are rich in curious
plants. iniusoria, and diatoms wa.
returning, and was almost in Dublin
with my box full OF rare specimens, on
which expected to make % report
that would astonisl, the Botanica
Society, when saw n little girl, Ger
talnly not more than five or six year,
old, who was all alone, crying as i
her little heart would break. | ap
preached her. but at sight OF me sh'
redouhled her cries. could see tha
She little one was lost, ana that sh'
did not know where to 90. SO I spok'
to her kindly, and, by dint OF promis
ing ber unlimited bonbons. got her tt
tell me that her name was Lizzie, ant
shat she lived near Beresford Place i,
lower Abbey Street. ltook her hand
and NE soon started OF, talking to
eether like old friends. She was {
beautiful child. fresh and rosy, will